Alarm valve



Aug; 7, 1923. y y 1,464,244

I P. L. BRAKE ALARM VALVE Filed March e, v1919 Patented Aug. 7, 1923.

` STATES lAaZdel PATENT GFF :PERGY L. DRAKE, F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 CHARLES W. MILLS,

0F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND. l

ALARM Application led March 6,

To all 'whom t may concern Be it knownv that l, PnRoY L. DRAKE, a citizen of the lnted States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence, State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Alarm Valves, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to improvements in alarm-valves for automatic lire-extinguishing` systems. The object of my improvement is to provide a device of this type for use with sprinkler-systems to sound an alarm when a sprinkler-head is opened, or should a leak occur in the piping-system; and particularly to render the device extremely sensitive to detect any slight escape of water while being prooi' against causing a false alarm under the action of variations in pressure or water-hammer in the supply pipe.'

A further and most important object of the improvement is to provide a device in which the valve seats and closures may be inspected from the outside, without taking the valve apart or draining oft' the water trom the system, whereby adjustments may be made and the parts renewed or replaced should they become inoperative from wear or derangement.

The manner and means for carryingr out these improvements are fully described in the `ollowing specications, illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts.

In the drawing the single ligure shows my 'improved alarm-valve in cross-section, taken on its vertical axis, and illustrates the parts of the valve-mechanism in operative relation. l

Referring to the drawing, 2 designates the valve-casing which is here shown as of the flanged type having` openings at top and bot-fy tom and on one side. The bottom opening 3 serves as the inlet to the valve and its flange is connected by bolts 4c to the flanged end olf a supply-pipe 5. At the top is the outlet 6 which is also flanged and con-j nected by bolts 7 to a vertical pipe 8 leading to the branch pipes of the sprinklersystem which carry the sprinkler-heads. At the side of the casing 2 is a larger opening or hand-hole 9 which is closed by a cover-plate 10 held against the flange 11 by means oit' bolts 12. rlhe handehole 9 provides an extended opening for inserting the parts VALVE.

1919. Serial No. 280,878.

of the value-mechanism to apply them to position in the process of assembling' the c6molete valve. 0n the opposite side from the hand-hole 9 a wasteor drain-pipe 14: is tapped through the wall of the casing 2 to adapt it to serve as a means for draining off the water from the system, a suitable draiir valve, not "here shown, being provided for this purpose. f

The inlet 3 is enlarged at one side where it opens into the central chamber of the cas- .ing 2 and is provided with an interiorlythreaded, circular seat 15. Screwed into the seat is a ring or washer 16 provided with a shoulder 17 which abuts the upper end of the opening. The ring 16 is preferably constructed of brass, bronze or some easily worked metal which will take a smooth linish and is beveled around .its upper edge to provide a relatively narrow seat 18 for a valveclapper 2() which sets thereagainst. The seat-ringr 16 is arranged at a slight angle to the horizontal and the valve-clapper or circular closure-plate 20 is provided with an arm 21 pivoted on a hinge-pin 22 held in suitable hubs or bosses 23 on the sides of the casing 2. Set into the under side olf the clapper-plate 2O is a flat ring or washer 2a, constructed of hard rubber or similar material and arranged to seat against the rim `18 el the valve-ring 16. The washer 24 is beveled on its inside to fit a beveled under-cut in the plate 20, being held in place therein bv a flat, metal ring 25 let into its edge and secured to the plate 20 by screws or pins 2G. The clapper or closure 2O is adapted 'to swing upwardly on its pivot or hinge-pin 22 to the position shown in the drawing yby dotted lines where .its end strikes against a lug 27 on the inside of the casing 2. In this Yay the clapper 20 may be forced upwardly from the inlet-opening 3 by the lflow therethrough to provide a free passage to the outlet 6, the lue' 27 serving as a stop t0 limit its movement and provide for the return of the valve to its seat under the action of gravity when the pressure against it is removed. y

At its outer end the clapper 20 carries an auxiliary pilot-valve 30 which controls the escape of water through a small duct or pipe 31 leading to the alarm apparatus, the pressure of this stream causing the operation ot the alarm in the manner familiar to those versed in the art. As shown in the drawing, the pipe 31 is screwed into a plug 32 which is fitted to an openinl 33 in an oiiset on the side of the casing 2, arranged beneath the side of the main valve seat or ring 16. The plug 32 is provided with a cylindrical portion 34 which is externally threaded to screw into the opening' 33, and at its outer end is an enlarged head 35 which may be termed as a nut to receive a wrench for applyinpl it to plaee or removing` it therefrom. The head :terms a shoulder whieh is adapted to set against a washer or Zgasket 36 iitted around the plug to seal the joint where it screws into the opening' 33. (ln its inner end the plug' 32 is provided with a quill-like eX- tension or nozzle reaching upward'toward the under side of the elapper 20.

At the outer end o't the elapper 2O is a hub or boss 3S having a bore or socket 39 on its under side arranged with its axis in line With that of the plug The bore 39 is threaded to receive a thimble 40 which is formed with a shoulder 4l screwed against a seat 42. At its lower end the thimble 4() is provided with an inturned Hangin 43 which surrounds the reduced end ot the nozzle 37 of the plug,` with a slight clearanee therebetween. Arranged to slide in the lhimble 40 is a valve or closure 45 whichy seats against the end of the nozzle 3'?. The 'valve 45 is constructed with. a stem 46 carrying a disk 47 at its upper end which slides in the bore of the thimble 40. A t its lower end is a cylindrical cup 48 oit thin sheetanetah also slidable in the bore ot the thimble 40 and 'forminga a sheath 'tor a plus' or dish 'of' hard rubber which is secured to the stem 46 by means o't a pin or screw 50. On the sides of .the thimble 40 are radial openings 44 for receiving the points of a spannerd wrench which may be employed 'for serewing the thimble into place or removing` it from its seat.

It will be noted 'trom the drawing that when the main valve-dapper 2O is seated against the ring' 1G the pilot-valve gl-,5 ill also he seated against the end o't 'the nozzle 37 on the plug-'32 with a slight clearance between the bottom oiE its disk 49 and the surrounding,y lange 43 which retains it in place. This arrangement allows the clappers valve Q() to be lifted slightly ott from its seat 1S under variations in pressure of the water column inthe supply-pipe 5, but when the elapper 20 is raised beyond this slight extent upon the opening' ot a sprinkler-head, or if abnormal leakage occurs in the piping; system, then the pilotfvalve 45 will be lifted with it to allow the water to flow through the plug' 32 and pipe 3l. to furnish pressure for operating` the alariaaplvaratus. The method of operation ot the complete device is as follows: Y y

My improved alarm-valve is usually installed in the basement ot the buildingin the supply-pipe or watersmain leading to the sprinkler-system on the floors above. Beneath it in the pipe 5 is a hand-valve or gate, not herein shown, iior admitting' pressure to the system. W hen the hand-gate is opened the water will flow through the inlet 3, the pressure lifting the clapper 20 to the position shown by the dotted lines in the drawing, andissuing` through the out let (l will be distributed to the 'various branches o't the sprinkler-pipes. 'ter the piping-system has been iilled the pressure will be. equalized on the clapper 2O and under the action of gravity it will drop baci: against its seat 1S on the rim oit' the rire; i6. As the elapper 2O returns to this position the pilot-valve45 carried at its end will seat itselic against the end ot the nozzle 37 to close the egress to the pipe 8l leading to the alarm-apparatus. Under normal conditions the pilot-valve 45S remains seated in this manner and the pressure on its under side is equalized by that on its upper end by the ilow through the openings 44 in the 'thimble 40. It is well lrnown that the waterpressure or lhead :trom city mains or other supply systems varies under ditlerent conditions. the pressure usually increasingT at night and decreasing under greater use in the daytime. This causes what is termed a water-hammer l in the supply-pipe tendine' towriroduee a 'fluctuation ot pressure against the clapper-valve Q0 in the casing; lTo compensate 'tor this increase in pres-- sure the clapper 2O is adapted to litt slightly oil from its seat i8. as betere efqylained, 'but the slight play ot the pilot-'valve 45 in the thiinhle 40 prevents the dish 49 from being raised away trom its seat on the end oi the nozzle 3'?. That iste say, 'the valve 45 'Floats or slides in the thimble 40 to pro vide 'tor maintaining' it eonstantly against seat under a slight lifting action oit the clapper 20, llllhen, howeven the va ve-clapper 2O is raised beyond the extent allowed by the clearance between 'the bottom o't the dish 49 and the 'flanee 4?, the valve 45 will lie hitte-d oiijtron'i its seat and the water will 'How through the plugY 32 and pipe Si, to furnish pressure to operate the alarmapparatus. This latter may be ot any usual arrangement for ringing' a bell or sounding a whistle. the i'neehanism employed not lejng herein shown it terms no p-.irt oit the present invention.

It will be understood, ot course?, that 'the raising' o't the valve-vclepper 20 to the ei;- tent required to openl the pilot-valve 4i is caused by the 'flow through the easing' Q induced bv escape et watervallen one or more sprinkler-heads is opened or from excessive leakage. The extent oft this lifting-motion el? ie clapper 2O required Jroepen the pilotva ve may be regulated by adjusting; the plug; longitudinally through its opening' 33 in the casing` Q. Usually the plug` 32 is made et the exact length required to @ive the proper adjustment when its shoulder seats awainst the gasket 36 surrounding the opening` 33. This provides that when the parts are once properly assembled the adjustment cannot be changed or tampered With by unauthorized persons. Should Wea" oi the valve-seats or derangement ot the parts necessitate a new adjustment this magT be made by inserting a neuY plug. or in some cases by changing' the dimensions of the one in use. Bv substituting;` a plugrliavine' a. longer nor/rale a greater clearance maiT be provided between the bottom of the dist'. i9 and the flansfe 4:3. When the valve alt-5 seated.. so that the clapper 2O may he raised to a greater extent without liftingv the plug; off from its seat. .lt less clearanceis re`- ipiired.l to provide 'for quicker or more sensitive action o'l" the pilot-valve. linen a plug With shorter nozzle is substituted. In some instances, `wht-ire different sizes or' plups are not at hand. the one in place muv he altered by tiling' oil the end ot the nozzle to malte .it shorter; or bv facing oliT the shoulder under its head to allow the nozzle to project farther into the casinga 2.

Gaskets 'of different thickues. might also be employed to alter the adjustment el the plugf 32. or they could he used in und tiple as required to 4@give the proper setting: although. as before stated` thepreterahlo method oli' adjustment is to provide plugs ot' graded lengths to insure accurate setting' in accordance with vari/iupv requirements. Through this means the pilfil-valve mov be adjusted to allou7 tl e proper et eut ot litt of the clapper 20 to take care ot veter-ham mer or variations in pressure in the supplv Without lifting the pilot-valve oil troni its seat.

Heretotore. in all alarm-valve construetions new use the adjustment of the pilotvalve must be made from the inside o'l the casinp; in which it is contained. That is to sav.` the plunoyer.I di aphrapgin or other closure carried bv the main valve constitutes the adjustable element ot the pilot-valve mechanism, and access to thisvpart can onlv he had by removinpj the cover oli the hand-'hole c and reaching' into the interior et the valvecasing. lt will be obvious that to etl'ect adiustment in this manner the pressure must be shut oil at the main piste all ol? the water drained oli trom the pipii7 Aisystem above tho valve. Notonlv does it require considerable time for draining; the sysand redlling the pipes airain. but the buildinsis lett unpii'otected While the adjustment is beiner made. As the adjustment must be verv accurateit is sometimes necessary to alte-r the position ot the pilot-valve several times before the proper setting` is arrived at. and test must he made for each adjustment atter the sprinkler s vstem ha oaratus the pilota/aire 1neen relilled.` This makes it a la serious and timeronsummg operat anc renders the adjustmentot the valve a very costly matter.

Readjustment o'l the pilot-valve `is often madenecessar-xY bj'v its seat beco 'ng marred or damaged from contact with Al'oreigfn substances such as pebbles and scale, or from Wear or derangemcnt oli' the parts or'f the device due to abnormal conditions. For this reason it is highly important that the adjustment oi the valk. mechanism may rbe madeeasily and cxped ".us U and u''l'iout the loss of lire-protection to the building' tor even short period. lilith mv imprm d apmaj; ybe :u *l irom the exterior et the main valve-euer g; and Without d'rfiinin'iv the sprii'ilrler system. llllien it required set the valve it only necesse y to close the main rate in the eupplv-pipe to shut olli the pressure' how when the plug' is removed a very small amount ot water will be drained otl 'from the inlet 3 through the rnaeninpr 3f. but the clapper 2O acts achecl-ralre to hold the pressure in the piping-system above it. That i to say, the Water cannot tlo'iv baci; through the main valve-opening so that the spriukl system will not be drained. but Will retain the Wat-cr 'therein to provide a measure oi lire-protection a all times. lllhen tlnsis place a test can be made 'immediat .f hv simpl turning on the pressure at the :foal- Agrate. i'i'ithout delav :for reiillinp the syste-in, That is say, the sprin ler-system remains immediately the plug is rep.` jed and tl t supply-gate opened. .et will tous be that the adjustment maj; be alte.im l several times Within a very orief period c u a tes' talren each time until the proper setting' is secured. i

My improved arrangement also provides -lor convenient inspection or the pilot-valve at :frequent intervals sothat its seat may be cleaned and the essential parts kept in order by repair or replacement should thev become vf'orn or deranged. Alfter the plug; 32 h as been removed the thimhle l0 ma;7 be unscrewed from its bore or lsocket 39 and the valvev i6 renewed or replaced should occasion require.' lt is also to be noted that the opening or socket for the pilot-valve l5 is open from the bottoni only7 and is therefore much less liable to collect sediment or scale from the piping-system so that it is ypractieallv prooil against becoming' clogged impeded in itsv action. For these reasons my improved device is much more sensitive and positive in its action; besides being easier and 'more' convenient of adjustment and more etticient tor the purpose required.

Various modiucations might be'made in the structure and" arrangement ot the parte gli limi) of the apparatus without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, therefore, without limiting myself to they exact embodiment herein shown and described, what I claim is i l. In an alarm-valve for automatic fireextinguishingv systems, the combination with a casing having inlet and outlet ports, of a check-valve for closing the inlet-port against back-pressure, a pilot-valve movably mounted on the under side oi' the check-valve within the inlet port, and a plug inserted through an opening in the side of the casing below the check-valve and provided with an outlet-port arranged opposite the pilot-valve to adaptfthe latter to seat thereagainst, the opening for the plug being of such dimension as to allow removal `of the pilot-valve therethrough :tor repair or replacement, without draining olil the water 'from the system.

2.` In an alarm-valve for automatic fireextinguishing systems, `the combination with a casing having inlet and outlet ports, of a check-valve Jfor closing the inlet-port against back-pressure, a pilot-valve inofvably mounted on the underside of the check-valve within the inlet port, and a plug screwed through an opening in the side ott-he casing below the check-valve and carrying nozzle against the end of which the pilot-valve is adapted to seat, said plug being adapted to be withdrawn from its opening to allow the pilotvalve to be removed therethrough tor repair or replacement without draining oil the water from the system.

3. In an alarm-valve for automatic lireextinguishing systems, the combination with a casing having inlet and outlet ports, of a check-valve for closing the inlet-port against back-pressure, a plug inserted through an opening on the side of the casing below the check-valve, said plug having an outlet leading to the alarm apparatus to supply pressure thereto, and a pilot-valve` on the under side-ott the check-valve within the inlet-port, said pilot valve movable independently or the check-valve to seat against the plug to close the pressure outlet therethrough and to be raised from its seatby the lifting of the check-valve toa predetermined extent, said pilot-valve being removable through the side opening in the casing to allow its repair and replacement without draining off the water from the system.`

4. In an alarm-valve for automatic lireextinguishing systems, the combination with a casing having inlet and outlet ports, of a check-valve for closing the inlet-port against back-pressurda socket attached to the under side of the check-valve, a pilot-valve slidable in said socket, and a pluginse'rted through an opening onthe side of the casing and having a `duct leading tothe alarm apparatus to supply pressure thereto, said plug arranged with the pilot-valve normally seated against its inner end and being adapted to be withdrawn to allow the pilot-valve and its socket to be removed through the opening in the casing.

5. In an alarm-valve for automatic tireextinguishing systems, the combination with a casing having inlet and outlet ports, of a check-valve for closing the inlet-port against back-pressure, a pilot-valve movably mounted on the under side of the check-valve within the inlet port, and a plug inserted through the side of the casing below the check-valve and provided with an outlet adapted to be closed by the pilot-valve, said plug provided. with means adapted to seat against the side or' the casing to regulate the position ot' the` inner, end of the plug with relation to the pilot-valve which seats thereagainst, and also adapted to be withdrawn from the casing to allow the removal of the Jilot-valve without draining oill the water in the system.

6. In an alarm-valve for sprinkler-systems, the combination with the valve-casing having inlet and outlet openings, of a gravity-operated clapper for closing the inlet against back-pressure, a socket on the under side of the clapper, a pilot-valve slidable in said socket, means to limit the sliding-movement of the pilot-valve to retain it in the socket, a plug inserted through an opening on the side ot the casing and provided with a nozzle projecting into position to adapt the pilot-valve to seat against its end, and a duct leading from the plug to supply pressure to operate the alarm-apparatus when the clapper is raised to apredetermined extent by release of pressure from the sprinkler-system.

7. In an alarm-valve for automatic lireeXtinguishing systems, the combination with the valve-casing having inlet and outlet openings, oi' a movable clapper for closing the inlet-opening against back-pressure, a socket `on the under side of the clapper having an inturned flange on its lower end, a pilot-valve slidable in the socket and retained in place by the flange, a plugr inserted through an opening in the side oi" the casing and provided with` a nozzle projecting into position for the pilot-valve to seat against its end, and a duct leading from the plug to supply pressure ltor operating the alarmlapparatus.

8.L Inl an alarm-valve for sprinkler-systemss the combination with the valve-casing having inlet and outlet "openings, of a seat- 'ring itted to the inlet-opening, a clapper hinged to seat against the seat-ring .to close the inlet against back-pressure, a thimble screwed into a socket on the under side of the clapper and provided with an inturned flange on its lower end, a pilot-valve slidable in said thimble and retained in position by the ange, a plug inserted through an opening on the side of the easing and having a nozzle-extension projecting into position tor the pilot-Valve to close its end, and a duct leading from the plug to supply pressure to operate the alarm-apparatus when the olapper is lifted to a predetermined extent by the escape oi" pressure from the sprinkler-system.

9. In an alarm-Valve :for sprinklensystems, the Combination With the valve-casing having inlet and outlet openings7 of a checkvalve for closing the inlet-opening against back-pressure7 a, tliiinble screwed into the under side of tlie check-valve, a. pilot-Valve slidtid able in the thimble, means to retain the pilot valve in place in the thimlole While allowing it to play up and down, a plug screwed through an opening in the side of the easing and provided With a nozzle projecting into position for the pilot-valve to close its end, said plug also formed With a liead adapted to seat against the side of the valve-casing to regulate the position of adjustment of the nozzle in relation to the pilot-valve` and a duet leading from the plug to supply pressure to the alarm-apparatusln testimony whereof l atlix my signature.

FERC/Y L. DRAME. 

